Remember – Lest We Forget

Remembrance Day is a day honoured in most British Commonwealth Nations around the world. Some places it is known as Remembrance Day, others Poppy Day, in others as Armistice Day and in yet others as Veterans Day. It is defined as:

A day of remembrance for the men and women who have served, and continue to serve our country during times of war, conflict and peace.

Currently I have an uncle in the Canadian Air Force, one of my Grandfathers was in the Canadian Air Force during and after World War Two, and Tamara’s Grandfather was in the Australian Army Corp during World War Two (and his father during World War One).

We’ll never have a future if we don’t remember the past.

Today was a day for us to not only remember the sacrifices of these men and women, but also I think to remember that they fought so that we wouldn’t have to. The First World War was described as “The War To End All Wars” because it was so horrific. Obviously history has  taught us that was not the case, and that we continue to fight was around the globe. As Canadians and Australian’s however we do not usually fight wars as the aggressor, but in the defence of others.

Today I took the kids down to the Calgary War Museum where they were having the Remembrance Day Ceremony. I wish that Caleb was still up so that I could quote him exactly, but here’s a try at a seven year olds description of what Remembrance Day is:

A day when we remember the soldiers who died so that we can be free and live in a free country.

I reckon that kid nailed it on the head …